South East

Specialist private client law firm, Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove LLP (WOF) has been ranked Tier 1 for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate in the South West in The Legal 500 UK 2027.Rose Chamberlayne has also been recognised as a Leading Partner in the same category.Stephen Green, Managing Partner at WOF, said:“This is a strong result for the firm and a credit to everyone in the team. Our clients come to us with increasingly complex questions about international mobility, offshore trusts and the transfer of wealth and responsibility between generations.“The ranking reflects the quality of our advice in these areas and, just as importantly, the long-term relationships we build with families, trustees and their other advisers. We are also delighted to see Rose recognised as a Leading Partner.”WOF is a specialist private client firm advising families, trustees and professional advisers in the UK and internationally. Rooted in the Cotswolds, present in London and connected internationally, the firm combines technical expertise with a clear understanding of the families, relationships and practical considerations behind complex private client matters.Its priority areas include cross-border relocation and UK entry and exit planning; offshore trust and trustee advisory; and family office, governance, succession and next generation planning.Rose advises families, trustees and their advisers on complex tax, trust and succession matters, frequently involving international interests, offshore structures and arrangements spanning several generations. Clients value her clear, practical advice and her ability to see how complex tax and trust questions fit within a family’s wider plans.The Legal 500 rankings are based on independent research, including feedback from clients and professional contacts. The firm thanks everyone who contributed to the research process.WOF’s roots go back to 1973, when a team of Magic Circle private client lawyers established a more personal and bespoke model of advice. Today, private client remains the firm’s sole focus.

Paris Smith took home the coveted award at the South Coast Deals Awards 2026, an event which celebrates excellence across the region’s corporate finance and dealmaking community. The judges said Paris Smith stood out for “the many high-profile deals they completed across the South Coast”, recognising the quality, breadth and impact of the firm’s corporate work during the year.The achievement reflects a real team effort across Paris Smith’s Corporate, Commercial & Finance Department, with colleagues working collaboratively to support businesses, entrepreneurs, lenders and investors on significant transactions across the South Coast. The Corporate team has representation across the firm’s Southampton, Winchester and Bournemouth offices, ensuring clients can access specialist corporate, commercial & finance expertise throughout the region.James McNeil, Head of the Corporate, Commercial & Finance Department at Paris Smith, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been named Corporate Law Firm of the Year. This award is a fantastic recognition of the dedication, expertise and commitment of our whole team, and of the trust placed in us by our clients and our professional contacts/referrers across the South Coast. The judges’ comments about the high-profile deals completed by the firm are especially pleasing because they reflect the depth of experience within the department and the collaborative way in which we work. It has truly been a team effort, and we are very proud to see that recognised.”Paris Smith’s Corporate team advises on a wide range of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, restructurings, investments, debt & equity finance, shareholder arrangements and corporate governance matters. The award underlines the firm’s role as a trusted adviser to businesses across Hampshire, Dorset and the wider South Coast.

SA Law has become the first Hertfordshire-based law firm to achieve B Corp certification. Headquartered in St Albans, the firm has been recognised for its high standards of ethical and sustainable practices.There are over 2500 B Corps in the UK, but only a small number of law firms have achieved B Corp certification.Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Rather than focusing solely on profit, B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, clients, suppliers, community, and the environment.B Lab, the global non-profit organisation behind the B Corp movement, assesses companies’ eligibility and pushes organisations to drive more inclusive, equitable and regenerative practices. This is central to B Corp’s mission, which is ‘to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.’SA Law saw the B Corp certification as an essential next step for the firm. Since SA Law was founded in 2005 – it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – the firm has consistently upheld strong ethical standards. This includes, but is not limited to, working for clients in industries that prioritise ethical standards in their commercial operations; investing in and supporting the wellbeing of its staff, including championing flexible working; and having a solid commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility in the communities they serve. As part of its journey to B Corp, SA Law has also introduced other initiatives to enhance its environmental and social performance, such as taking steps to reduce its emissions.To certify as a B Corp, SA Law has undergone B Lab’s rigorous verification process, under their B Impact Assessment, which measured the firm’s social and environmental performance across five Impact Areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. In order to achieve certification, companies must demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing B Lab’s risk review.Steve Ryan, co-founder and Joint Managing Partner, commented:“When we set out on our B Corp journey, we were conscious that, whilst we had made great strides to becoming a socially conscious business, there was so much more we could do to be, in B Corp’s words, a ‘force for good’.“Very few law firms in the UK have B Corp certification, but at SA Law, we felt that a focus on the continual improvement of ethical and sustainable practices in business was non-negotiable.“Lawyers play a huge role in developing standards – not only are they at the forefront of legislative change, but through their legal advice, they heavily contribute to their clients’ commercial practices.“As a firm, we pride ourselves on our multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to clients’ legal issues. We see the consideration of ethical and sustainable standards as part of this.”Tracy Lacey-Smith, Joint Managing Partner, added:“We are proud that SA Law is the first Hertfordshire-based law firm to become a B Corp and has joined its growing community of organisations looking to do business more ethically.“Becoming a certified B Corp gives us more opportunities to engage with others who share our ambition to create positive change. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, this really is the beginning of a new era for the firm.“Being conscious about the environmental impact of your business is a necessity. Whilst SA Law’s staff were already working and advising with sustainability in mind, we felt we could do more to improve on these initiatives.“We are looking forward to building on the sustainable business initiatives which has earned us this recognition, and we are excited to collaborate with the B Corp community.”Kelly Pike, Head of Human Resources, also said:“The passion to become a B Corp has been felt across the firm, with our team taking great strides to explore new ways to improve our impact. We are thankful for everyone’s creativity, commitment and dedication to achieving certification.“B Lab’s Impact Assessment process challenged and stimulated our thinking. It was hard work, but so worth it. We have already seen the positive effects it has had on staff morale and client engagement. We would encourage our peers across the legal industry to consider embarking on the certification process. The legal sector has an important role to play in creating a more equitable and environmentally conscious world.”To find out more about the ethos and work behind B Corp and the B Lab certification process, please read here.

This week, SA Law celebrates its 20-year anniversary - a proud milestone in the firm’s history. To celebrate, the firm will be holding a series of events with the team, as well as with clients and the local community.SA Law began in St Albans in 2005, growing both organically and through rewarding mergers with complementary businesses Pickworths in 2012 and Leigh Davis in 2018.Since then, it has become one of the most successful and well-known full-service law firms in the South East of England, advising organisations across the board, and HNW individuals and families across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London, as well as nationally and internationally.Our firm’s departments have climbed up to the top tiers/bands by independent legal directories Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500, and we attract and nurture top legal talent - in last year’s rankings, the firm celebrated 18 lawyers being recognised as leaders in their field in each directory respectively. SA Law also continues to be accredited by The Law Society’s Lexcel scheme for the high quality of client care and practice management. The firm has also been nominated for numerous legal awards over the years for our workplace wellbeing and the services we provide to clients.In 2024, Tracey-Lacey Smith was appointed to Joint Managing Partner, working alongside Founding Partner Steve Ryan to steer a new strategic direction for the firm. Since then, Tracy and Steve have implemented ambitious growth plans to widen the support and services the firm provides to private clients and prestigious local businesses, as well as leading national, and international companies.Joint Managing Partner, Steve Ryan commented: “When I co-founded SA Law in 2005, our goal was to create a ‘one firm’ holistic approach providing a comprehensive service to our clients to meet their legal challenges, whether personal or commercial, or both. We wanted to be more than just a law firm: modern in our approach, grounded in strong social and commercial values, active in our communities, and committed to creating opportunities for our people, while delivering exceptional results for our clients. I’m proud to say through our team, clients and community, SA Law is the very definition of this today. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make SA Law such an excellent and leading law firm.“Looking ahead, I am looking forward to collaborating further with my joint managing partner Tracy Lacey-Smith on our ambitious growth plans. She has been a tour de force within the firm. I am excited to see what else SA Law can achieve in our next chapter.”Tracy Lacey-Smith, Joint Managing Partner added: “It has been incredible to see the firm grow into the powerhouse it is today, after joining as a Partner in 2007.“Our team has worked so hard to provide outstanding levels of service, and we have had the opportunity to work with some amazing individuals and businesses, who have contributed immensely to the firm’s success. I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has been a part of our journey.“Working with Steve, we are keen to continue building on this success over the next twenty years.”